Anti-Porn Group Already Mad About the "Fifty Shades" R Rating

They'll accept nothing less than "not suitable for anyone."

Earlier this month, the MPAA announced that Fifty Shades of Grey would be rated R for "strong sexual content including dialogue, some unusual behavior, and graphic nudity." Director Sam Taylor-Wood also indicated in an interview that the sex scenes would be tasteful, with most of the focus on details like "flesh and fingers and skin and eyes and looks." However, none of this information has deterred anti-porn watchdog group Morality in Media from getting their panties in a twist about what they believe is too lenient a rating. In a statement, they said the R rating "severely undermines the violent themes in the film and does not adequately inform parents and patrons of the film's content." Keep in mind that they have almost certainly not seen the film to verify the presence of these "violent themes," because it does not premiere for another month and most journalists have not even seen it yet.

You would think the ubiquitous trailers showing Ana blindfolded and in various states of undress would be "adequate" enough information for any concerned patrons who somehow don't know what this Fifty Shades business is about, but Morality in Media does not agree. They're most upset by the MPAA's use of the phrase "unusual behavior" in the description of why the movie is rated R, saying that what it "does not account for is the coercion, sexual violence, female inequality, and BDSM themes from which the entire Fifty Shades plot is based." According to their statement, "unusual behavior" is too "vague" an evaluation, and it "puts viewers at risk, sending the message that humiliation is pleasurable and that torture should be sexually gratifying." Except, Ana doesn't always love it when Christian "humiliates" her and in fact — SPOILER ALERT — leaves him when she thinks he's gone too far. Sounds like somebody didn't read the book.

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So what do they want? Specifics! "We'd like to change the MPAA rating for Fifty Shades of Grey to read: 'Promotes torture as sexually gratifying, graphic nudity, encourages stalking and abuse of power, promotes female inequality, glamorizes and legitimizes violence against women.'" That's a lot to fit in that little rating box, guys. Would you settle for "hot BDSM-lite sex between consenting adults?"